Yes, the RHONY Ladies Fought Over Cheese in Season 14 — the Feud, Explained
Does Sai eat cheese? Was Erin's charcuterie board offensive? Is Brynn lying? The Real Housewives Of New York City dives right into drama in the season premiere.
It took only mere moments into the premiere of the rebooted The Real Housewives of New York City for the first fight to happen, and let’s just say the ‘Wives disa-brie about what really went down with a charcuterie board.
What will forever be known as Cheese-Gate involves Erin Lichy, Brynn Whitfield, Sai De Silva, and an infamous cheese platter.
“It’s mind-boggling to me,” Ubah Hassan said during the premiere episode. “These girls are fighting over cheese. But I get it, we’re in New York, there’s lots of rats here.”
RHONY's Cheese-Gate, Explained
Let’s start from the beginning. At a gathering with the ‘Wives, Brynn shared that she heard Erin had a problem with Sai from a previous gathering because “Sai maybe rubbed her a little wrong or something.”
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“She’s like, ‘Sai, comes over, and Sai’s like, 'What’s that?’ She’s like, ‘That’s cheese.’ And then supposedly Sai goes, ‘Oh, you eat cheese?’” Brynn said as she described her conversation with Erin. “And Erin’s like, ‘Is that not cool or chic?' and supposedly Sai goes, ‘That’s weird.’”
Upon hearing this story, Sai immediately got defensive and said, “For the record, I did not say ‘Cheese, that’s weird.’ I know I didn’t because I ate it.”
Sai also insisted she actually ate more cheese than the other ladies.
“Erin and I have similar friends. We have run in the same circle for a few years now, but Erin is always arguing with someone, or is mad at someone,” Sai said. “So now it’s starting to seem like Erin is the common denominator here.”
As news of Cheese-Gate spread to the other Housewives, Jenna Lyons was concerned about her own upcoming party, where fondue was a planned part of the menu. As she joked to Jessel Taank she was “only having cheese,” Jessel responded, “It’s going to ruffle so many freaking feathers.”
Jessel decided to flat-out ask Erin on the phone if she told Brynn that Sai was upset when cheese was served, and Erin denied that this happened, responding, “Are you joking?”
“Brynn and I definitely have an up-and-down relationship,” Erin said. “We have the most fun together, but I just feel like Brynn is such a shit-stirrer.”
Sai also brought her husband, David, into the cheese fold, describing how Brynn told her Erin is “distancing herself” from Sai after the alleged charcuterie offense.
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“Because you’re a bitch about cheese?” David asked, and later added, “What you just described to me is the bizarrest thing I’ve ever heard.”
Was Cheese-Gate Resolved?
Cheese-Gate culminated at Jenna’s party in her Soho apartment, when all six Housewives came face to face for the first time in the premiere.
As the ladies answered personal questions about themselves in a revealing game, Erin turned the talk abruptly to cheese.
Erin told the group she didn’t tell Brynn any story about Sai and cheese, and that Brynn lied.
“Who gives a f-ck about the cheese?” Sai said. “I eat cheese. I’m bloated. I’m gassy right now. I might fart in your house, and I’m sorry, but I like cheese.”
It was then revealed Erin was also upset with Brynn and Sai for an entirely different reason: They ditched the group dinner she put together and went out by themselves.
At an impasse over who was lying, and with the rest of the ‘Wives over the cheese talk, Erin decided to take Brynn into another room to chat alone.
After claiming the fight wasn’t about the cheese, Erin admitted to Brynn she’s mad that Brynn got “wishy-washy” with her and became better friends with Sai. The two agreed to move on and hug.
“I’m realizing it’s not about the restaurant, it’s not about the reservation,” Brynn said. “It was about wanting to spend quality time together, and not caring about these other things, and that I understand.”
Have Brynn and Erin really squashed that cheddar? Watch new episodes of The Real Housewives Of New York City on Sundays at 9/8c on Bravo and the next day on Peacock.
